It's been a few weeks since the death of Queen Kiara. Everyone had come to accept the fact that the savior queen was gone and that the savior king was either missing or dead.
The pride and the animals now looked to the new king and queen for guidance. It was rocky the first week but King Jesús is getting the hang of things with the help of Kopa and Mufasa. Sarabi volunteered to show Sherise the way of ruling.
Jesús and Sherise had accepted the responsibility of the Pride Lands. But the new king still grieved for his adopted mother.
The cubs didn't know what to do. Dimitri and Skye were the closest to the late queen. And from that the two grew a close bond. But as life was moving on some hearts never fully healed.
~O~
Day after day, week after week Anissa watched Mheetu sneak away. She never asked where he go but one day she just followed.
Anissa followed the dark cream lion to the borders of the Outlands and Pride Lands where the older lion was bawling his eyes out. The creamy lioness felt her heart ache at the sight before her eyes.
"Mheetu..."
The dark cream lion's ears flickered before he lifted his head to see the younger lioness looking down at him with concern.
"Anissa?"
The creamy lioness smiled lightly before sitting. "You run off to here to cry. Why?"
Mheetu sighed. "So I won't seem weak. It's my job to be strong for the pride...imagine what I would look like crying in front of everyone?"
Anissa lowered her bluish gaze. "You're...grieving. They will understand. Everyone, even the strongest warriors need time to grieve."
Mheetu looked up with hopeful green eyes. "You don't think I'm weak?"
Anissa shook her head. "Not at all. I think you're quite brave and I'm sorry for your lost. Kiara must of been special."
Mheetu nodded before looking to the sky. "She took me in after Simba left and my mother abandoned me. She's the only family I really knew."
Tears began to fall and matted the dark cream lion's fur. Anissa frowned and before she knew what she was doing, she nuzzled into Mheetu's black mane. Mheetu closed his eyes and leaned in. Laying his head on Anissa's. Things are starting to brighten up in the prince's life.
~O~
Even in the Western Land things were brightening up. Nala sat on a ledge as she watched Ricdoand Nuka drag Simba out of his prison cave.
"Where are we taking him?" asked the dark tan lion.
The tawny lioness smiled at her follower and son-in-law. "Take him back to the Pride Lands."
The lions nodded before continuing to drag the older lion away as Vitani approached her mother.
"Are you sure that's a wise thing?"
Nala smiled at her daughter as she rubbed her lower stomach. "I got what I wanted."